Pastor Chris Okafor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries, popularly known as Grace Nation Liberation City, has publicly apologised to Nollywood actress Doris Ogala following days of intense controversy that led to her arrest and subsequent release by the Nigeria Police.
The cleric tendered the apology during a livestreamed Sunday service in Ojodu, Lagos, where he knelt before his congregation and acknowledged that mistakes had been made, even as he disputed several allegations levelled against him.
“Listen, we’re not joining issues. Mistakes have been made in the past. And I tender apology to everybody,” Okafor said during the service.
While offering the apology, the pastor insisted that many of the accusations against him were untrue.
“But everything that was said is not true. Everything, take note, everything that was said was never true. There are so many lies in most of the things that were said,” he stated.
Despite this position, Okafor directly apologised to Ogala and others he said he may have offended.
“But be it. I say I am sorry to everyone I have offended. To Doris Ogala, I also say sorry,” he said, adding that he was willing to make amends.
“And I apologize to everyone that I have offended. And once again, I repeat this. I’m ready to make restitution to anyone,” he added.
Describing the apology as both personal and public, the cleric went further to demonstrate humility before the church.
“And anybody, any lady, anywhere, or man I have offended, I am sorry. Forgive me. I am not perfect. I’ve never been perfect,” he said. “I’m kneeling down before everyone. And before the church.”
The apology follows Ogala’s dramatic arrest and release, which drew widespread public attention. The actress was rearrested in Abuja shortly after being granted bail and later flown to Lagos by officers from the Zone 2 Command.
The situation reportedly escalated when Ogala’s lawyer attempted to record police actions, leading to an alleged confrontation and the seizure of his phones.
Okafor later met with Ogala at the Zone 2 Command in Onikan, Lagos, where he appealed for peace and reconciliation. Sources said the meeting lasted nearly an hour and ended with the actress being released on health grounds, with a surety provided on her behalf.
The dispute between Ogala and Okafor reportedly began after the actress accused the cleric of breaching an alleged promise to marry her. Through her lawyers, Synergy Law Partners, Ogala demanded N1 billion in damages, citing emotional distress, reputational harm and financial loss.
She further alleged that the relationship, said to have begun in 2017, involved assurances of marriage, introductions to family members and significant financial transactions, including an alleged N45 million transfer.